Cineflix Media acquires Coroner prodco Back Alley Film, founders depart

Canadian pubcaster CBC airs crime drama Coroner

Canada’s Cineflix Media has acquired Toronto-based production company Back Alley Film Productions and its library of IP.

With the acquisition, co-founders Adrienne Mitchell and Janis Lundman will leave the company to “pursue new horizons.”

Cineflix said it will absorb Back Alley Films’ operations and acquire its programming assets, including the company’s ownership interest in series such as Bellevue, starring Anna Paquin, Second World War drama Bomb Girls and Durham County.

Adrienne Mitchell

The deal will also see Cineflix acquire Back Alley Films’ stake in the popular crime procedural Coroner, which is coproduced by Back Alley Films, Muse Entertainment and Cineflix Studios.

Cineflix Rights handles global distribution on the series, which is an original for Canadian pubcaster CBC. The show airs on networks and platforms in more than 150 countries including The CW in the US, NBCUniversal International Networks and Sky Witness in the UK, in addition to Globo in Brazil and Nine Network in Australia.

“It has been such a pleasure to collaborate with Janis and Adrienne over the past 20 years as they grew Back Alley Films,” said Peter Emerson, president of Cineflix Media.

“I’m such a huge fan of their work that we jumped at the opportunity to acquire the company’s IP and also to continue to support them in any new projects or endeavors.”

Janis Lundman

Lundman, who has more than 30 years of industry experience, will move to a new role as a consultant.

“I’ve been extremely fortunate to work with amazing creatives and network executives over the past three decades and I’m incredibly proud of all the shows Back Alley Films has produced,” she said.

“I can’t think of a better company than Cineflix to take the reins and shepherd in new possibilities for the Back Alley IP — there are plenty of exciting opportunities ahead for us all,” said Lundman

Meanwhile veteran producer Mitchell has launched BentFrame Film & TV, a new production company focused on developing and producing “ambitious, provocative and diverse female-driven dramatic series and feature films.”

“I am incredibly proud of the body of work that came from my partnership with Janis Lundman under the Back Alley Films banner,” said Mitchell.

“Our goals were to push creative boundaries and tell diverse and authentic stories, making for thought-provoking and compelling film and television. I am thrilled that Cineflix Media, an industry powerhouse, has acquired our library and I feel they are the perfect fit to represent our stories for the global marketplace.”